Why you should consider working with a professional organizer if you have ADHD
Once I became a professional organizer, many of my clients began to tell me that they had ADHD. Often they were women with families, intense careers, and lots of interesting projects and hobbies bubbling. Sometimes they felt overwhelmed or frustrated that they just couldn’t seem to keep their home in order.
I grew up with an ADHD family member, and always felt that I intuitively understood my clients with ADHD. But I wanted to further my knowledge and recently earned my Level I Certificate of Study in ADHD from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. I truly love working with clients with ADHD because they are interesting, fun, and creative, and can really benefit from working with an organizer.
If you have ADHD and you are struggling with organization, know that help is out there. Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider working with a professional organizer.
Traditional strategies might not work for you
What if you want to get organized, but you don’t have the patience to file-fold all of your t-shirts and organize them by color? What if you want to get your paperwork in order, but an alphabetical filing system doesn’t make sense to you?
The organizing methods your mother taught you or that you read about in a popular organizing book might not work for your ADHD brain (and in my experience, “traditional” organizing strategies don’t always work for neurotypical people either!) A professional organizer, especially one who has experience/training working with clients with ADHD, can help you find strategies that will work for your mind, your lifestyle, and your personality.
An organizer is a great body double
Many people with ADHD are familiar with the concept of a “body double.” Basically, it’s the idea that just having another person present can motivate you to accomplish a task that’s difficult, unpleasant, or boring (like sorting through papers). Most of my clients, including those who don’t have ADHD, tell me that they get so much more done when I am with them, even if they’re doing most of the work.
Now, you don’t necessarily need an organizer to act as a body double. Maybe you have a friend or a family member who can come over and help you stay on task while you are cleaning out your closet.
But what if you’re embarrassed about your place, or you know that your sister will make you feel guilty about having too much stuff, or you’re nervous that your friend will see the sweater she gave you two Christmases ago stuffed in the back of your closet?
That’s where a professional organizer is a great resource. Organizers have tons of experience working with lots of different clients, and they understand the importance of being neutral, non-judgemental, and confidential. Many of my clients find it easier to work with me instead of a family member because they know they can be honest with me, and I’ll be honest with them. They also know I’m committed to helping them finish their project, and I won’t bail out if it gets difficult.
Simplifying can make life a little smoother
Working with a professional organizer can help anyone streamline and simplify their life. I’ve helped countless clients simplify their wardrobes so it’s easy to get dressed in the morning), find any tool in their garage, and be able to leave the house without a 20-minute search for their keys. For people with ADHD who struggle with distractions, having effective systems is even more critical. A professional organizer can help you simplify your home and create systems to minimize clutter and distractions for the long-term.
You could be leaving money on the table (literally)
Although hiring an organizer is an expense, disorganization can end up costing you money. If you end up paying late fees because you have trouble keeping track of your bills or you are renting storage space, working with an organizer can help you save money in the long-run. I recently worked with a client who didn’t like to deal with paperwork, and while I was helping her sort through papers we found hundreds of dollars of checks she had never cashed! She ended up nearly recouping the amount of money she had paid me, and she now has a system for her paperwork so it will be easier to manage her money in the future.
How to find a professional organizer
Keep in mind that although there are a lot of great professional organizers out there, not all are trained in or have experience working with clients with ADHD. The National Association of Productivity and Organizing professionals (NAPO) and the Institute for Challenging Disorganization are great resources for finding organizers who specialize in working with clients in ADHD.
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and you’d like to chat with an organizer who works with ADHD, you can schedule a free consultation with me here. Even if you’ve struggled with organization in the past, know that there are people out there who can help you make life a little more manageable.
